Korean J Parasitol.  2008 Sep;46(3):139-143. 10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.139.

Toxocariasis and Ingestion of Raw Cow Liver in Patients with Eosinophilia

• Choi D
• Lim JH
• Choi DC
• Paik SW
• Kim SH
• Huh S

• KMID: 1720556
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.139

Abstract

Ingestion of raw animal liver has been suggested as a possible mode of infection of human toxocariasis. We evaluated the relationship between toxocariasis and the ingestion of raw meat in patients with eosinophilia of unknown etiology. The study population consisted of 120 patients presenting with peripheral blood eosinophilia (> 500 cells/microliter or > 10% of the white blood cell count). They were divided into 2 groups: 104 seropositive patients based on a Toxocara excretory-secretory IgG ELISA and 16 seronegative patients. While 25.0% of seronegative patients had a recent history of eating raw cow liver, 87.5% of seropositive patients had this history. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that a recent history of eating raw cow liver was related to an increased risk of toxocariasis. Collectively, it is proposed that raw cow liver is a significant infection source of toxocariasis in the patients with eosinophilia of unknown etiology.

Keyword

Toxocara canis ; toxocariasis; eosinophilia; raw cow liver

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Animals
Cattle
Cookery
Data Collection
Eosinophilia/*complications
Female
*Food Parasitology
Humans
Liver/*parasitology
Male
Middle Aged
Toxocariasis/*complications